London close: Financials lift Footsie

Footsie began the week with good gains as the day got off to a strong start following news that Abu Dhabi is to bail out its troubled fellow Emirate Dubai.Investors piled into LSE, Standard Chartered and HSBC as the threat of possible huge bad debts recedes. An upgrade by Credit Suisse, which highlighted the low exposure to Dubai as well as the bullish trading update last week, gave Standard an extra lift.International financial exchange Dubai Bourse has a 20.56% stake in the LSE. Banks that have lent to Dubai World, the stricken conglomerate, will also get some support from the Abu Dhabi central bank.Stronger metal prices were good news for the miners. Lonmin, Xstrata, Eurasian Natural Resources and Antofagasta are going well.But there was bad news for shareholders and travellers as British Airways staff voted in favour of strike action over Christmas in a row over new working practices. The result, said to have been 9 to 1 in favour of strike action, means staff will walk out for 12 days from 22 December. Earlier, fears that the proposed merger with Spain's Iberia could run into trouble rose as BA said its pension deficit had risen to £3.7bn from £2.1bn at the last triennial review in 2006.Whitbread remains a firm favourite though. The hotel, pub and coffee shop group has frothed higher after saying it expects results for the current year will 'somewhat exceed the top end of market estimates' as sales rallied in the third quarter. Revenues moved forward again in the three months to end November, with total sales up 6.7% and like for like sales rising by 0.3%. In the 39 weeks of the year to date, total sales are up 4.3% and like for like sales down 1.7%.Elsewhere, Dairy Milk and Crème Egg maker Cadbury today recommended shareholders reject the bid from processed foods maker Kraft Food, which it says substantially undervalues the company. The UK confectionary giant said Kraft's offer fails to recognise the value of the group's performance to date and the benefits of completing its 'Vision into Action' plan set out in June 2007.Lloyds Banking has received overwhelming backing from investors for its £13.5bn cash call with a take-up of over 95% of the shares on offer. Analysts had expected a strong positive response as the shares were offered on a 1.34 for 1 basis at 37p each, compared to the ex-rights closing price on Friday of 56p.Distribution and outsourcing firm Bunzl has increased revenue by 11% this year so far thanks to currency exchange rates and remains on course to meet full year expectations. The UK blue chip said underlying revenue for the year to 31 December 2009 is down 1% at constant exchange rates, although that's a little better than the growth rate in the first half of 2009.Shares in PartyGaming jumped on reports of a merger on the cards with Austrian rival Bwin. A tie-up would form a £2bn online gaming giant, the reports suggested.Road and infrastructure support contractor Mouchel today confirmed that it rejected two separate takeover approaches from VT Group. The company said it believes, "these approaches to be wholly inadequate and at a level which substantially undervalues the company." Shares in FTSE 250 listed VT, which said it is 'continuing to review its options,' fell back.Shares in support services group Spice tumbled again as it revealed a huge loss a write-off of its social housing gas business. A £42.9m write-down sent the billings group into a loss of £31.5m in the half year to October.FTSE 100 - RisersLondon Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 763.50p +9.94%Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,575.00p +4.34%Whitbread (WTB) 1,380.00p +3.76%Lonmin (LMI) 1,830.00p +3.74%Antofagasta (ANTO) 945.00p +3.22%Tullow Oil (TLW) 1,290.00p +3.20%Anglo American (AAL) 2,636.00p +2.97%Aviva (AV.) 380.50p +2.67%Xstrata (XTA) 1,074.00p +2.58%Man Group (EMG) 317.20p +2.39%FTSE 100 - FallersRexam (REX) 279.10p -2.41%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 55.16p -1.89%Wolseley (WOS) 1,216.00p -1.70%Hammerson (HMSO) 380.00p -1.25%Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 3,239.00p -1.22%British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSY) 572.00p -1.04%G4S (GFS) 253.50p -0.86%InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 897.00p -0.72%RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 116.00p -0.60%Centrica (CNA) 264.00p -0.60%FTSE 250 - RisersAshmore Group (ASHM) 273.70p +7.21%BlueBay Asset Management (BBAY) 307.00p +5.14%Logica (LOG) 113.70p +4.12%Forth Ports (FPT) 1,083.00p +4.03%Shanks Group (SKS) 135.20p +4.00%888 Holdings (888) 112.60p +3.78%John Wood Group (WG.) 296.60p +3.67%Gem Diamonds (GEMD) 195.00p +3.61%Punch Taverns (PUB) 80.80p +3.52%PV Crystalox Solar (PVCS) 58.10p +3.20%FTSE 250 - FallersPetropavlovsk (POG) 1,147.00p -3.29%Synergy Healthcare (SYR) 652.00p -3.26%Computacenter (CCC) 248.00p -3.20%Avis Europe (AVE) 22.77p -3.11%VT Group (VTG) 526.00p -2.86%Caledonia Investments (CLDN) 1,535.00p -2.85%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 182.80p -2.77%Telecity Group (TCY) 360.00p -2.41%JPMorgan European Fledgling Inv Trust (JFF) 637.50p -2.22%St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 195.00p -2.21%